Pet Health

Taking care of a cat should be easy — feed them the right food, make sure they’re getting enough water, play with them to keep them stimulated, and give the occasional belly rub (when they want it, of course). But there is actually a lot about taking care of cats that we don’t know about, especially when it comes to feeding them. There is a lot of information out there, and it’s important to find the right tips to make sure your furry friend is as healthy as possible. We’ve partnered with NomNomNow , and they have provided us with these useful tips for feeding. They make fresh, healthy recipes that can benefit your cat, so you can be rest assured that they know what they’re talking about. Cat Hydration and Feeding Behaviors In their most natural state, cats are actually desert animals. This means that like other desert animals, cats get their water through the food they eat. Their prey is usually high in moisture, and through that, the average cat actually needs about 1 ounce of w...

Did you know that good dog dental care can extend your dog’s life? According to Dr. Jen Emerson-Mathis DVM, CVJ , it can actually lengthen it by an average of two years. Now, who wouldn’t like to have man’s best friend around longer? In fact, not only can you extend it but you can also make it a happy one just by practicing daily brushings, regular examinations and dental visits. We all know that as dogs age, they get slower and want to sleep more. But the reality might be they are slowing down because of dental issues. Unlike humans, they can’t tell you if they’re in pain or suffering from a cracked tooth, so they just deal with it, and over time those issues become a drain on their energy levels and ability to cope. Hence, your dog’s tail hardly wags, they become lethargic and sleep most of the time. Think about it. If you had dental pain and couldn’t get it fixed, would your tail be wagging? Probably not. So, you’ve had Fido or Princess for more than ten years and they’re def...

You could set your clock by it. At 8 PM every evening my Millie would start pacing back and forth. Sometimes she’d stop and bark at me for no reason. Pacing is a common behavior in older dogs and it can be stressful. Why do older dogs pace? Well, there a number of reasons and as a good dog owner, naturally you need to know why. Dogs Often Pace Because of Anxiety There are several things that can cause anxiety in your dog. If they are old and you have moved to a new house, this can be upsetting to a dog as they try to understand their new world, through old dog sense. Give them a few days and they will learn their way around. Is there a new dog in the house that is driving them crazy? It may be time to separate the two until your dog recovers and is able to better adjust. The pup or new dog may need to learn his place in the pecking order of the house so your dog can learn to feel comfortable again. They have to go to the bathroom and you forgot to take them for their nightly ...

I’m a big believer in having dogs in pairs. They keep each other company and often seem to be happier. But what if you have an older dog? Should you get another dog for your senior dog? To be honest, it all depends on your present dog and several conditions all must be factored in to make a good judgment. Questions to Consider Before Bringing Home a New Dog 1.   How old is your dog? If your dog is up in his years, he might not enjoy the company of a pesky, little pup which might cause your dog a lot of stress. If you really want to get a companion for an older dog, you need to settle on a calm one, of which a puppy never is. But an older dog, might be okay. But it will depends on your dog’s personality.  2.   Does your dog enjoy the company of other dogs? If so, then you got a winner and having another friend will make your dogs life that much better. If you follow the rules which are simple. Always treat your dog as if nothing has happened and he/she is the most...

Polyester – that was the name of the doll-that-was-bigger-than-me when I was 4 years old. My mom was a seamstress and I thought that polyester was a name. True story. Mom made me this giant, floppy rag doll in order to make me feel special, because we had a new addition coming to the family – my little sister was about to arrive. Preparing for a new arrival is just as important with a new puppy as it is with a new baby. Here’s how to make the transition for your dog in residence easier. Why Can it Sometimes be Difficult to Introduce a New Puppy to Your Resident Dog? Despite the fact that puppies are extremely adorable, your current dog may be wary of the new arrival. In order to ensure a smooth introduction, you need to prepare both dogs for their new environment. In doing so, you must be completely aware of the challenges you may face so that you are prepared to meet them. Dogs DON’T Always Like to Share Things – Especially Attention Sharing is a difficult art to learn, esp...

My dogs LOVE baked treats, and I love chocolate. But I know that real chocolate is extremely dangerous for dogs, so I use the popular chocolate substitute – carob in puppy treats. They smell great and dogs love them. Remember, you should NEVER give your dog real chocolate of any kind. Chocolate is never safe and always poisonous to dogs. If your dog(s) consume chocolate call your vet immediately. But you can give them carob, which is safe for dogs and serves as a great replacement for chocolate in homemade baked dog treats. Where to Buy Carob for Dogs? Carob is a perfect replacement of chocolate if you want to avoid harmful chemicals like Theobromine and Caffeine. This makes it an ideal ingredient for dog treats as chocolate can be lethal for your dog. You can use carob in all kinds of recipes, ranging from chip cookies to a cake. The recipe you are trying to make determines the form of carob you will need (powder or chips). Carob Chips for Dog Treats Just like chocolate chi...

The wrapping paper was torn to shreds and the remnants of chocolate wrappers were scattered over the floor. Our hearts dropped. Muffy, our family dog, had gotten into the chocolate under the Christmas Tree. I don’t have any idea how she smelled it through the plastic, but she did. Many dogs will get into chocolate at one point or another and when that happens time is of the essence. Here’s a comprehensive dog chocolate poisoning timeline so you know what to expect and what to do if this happens to you. (BTW… Muffy was just fine – thankfully. But it was a BIG scare) What Happens When Your Dog Eats Chocolate? Although dogs are fond of eating sweets, chocolate is poisonous for them due to one of its ingredients, Theobromine. The metabolism of this chemical is extremely slow in dogs. Consequently, Theobromine accumulates into the body of a dog and becomes toxic. Just like caffeine, Theobromine is heart-stimulant and diuretic, which is clearly observable in the symptoms of chocolat...

Boundless energy, teeny-tiny bladders, and sharp little teeth. Puppies are adorable and can be destructive if left alone for long periods of time. We all want well trained dogs that are good companions. That means that deciding what to do with a puppy while working is a big deal. So… is it a good idea to leave your puppy in a playpen while at work? Dealing with what to do with their puppy while they are out of the house one of the most common questions that nearly all new dog parents ask. Raising a puppy while working full time is not impossible, but it does require determination and effort.  Just like human babies, puppies do need a lot of attention, frequent meals, and proper potty training. All these things require a considerable amount of your time which can become quite difficult if you are working 40 hours a week. A puppy playpen can prove extremely useful in raising a well-behaved dog but you need to keep your cool.  What is a Puppy Playpen? A puppy (or pet) pla...

Do you feed your dog a raw food diet? If so, you’ll want to keep reading. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging dog parents to stop feeding all Performance Dog frozen raw pet food. This comes after a sample tested positive for Salmonella  and  Listeria monocytogenes  (L. mono). During an inspection at Bravo Packing, Inc.  (Performance Dog’s manufacturer) , officials found two samples from different products tested positive for Salmonella and/or Listeria. What Pet Parents Need To Know About This Recall Here’s some good news: One of the sampled products was never distributed. But, now the bad news: The recalled food that was distributed is going to be difficult for pet parents to identify. We know the lot code is 072219 and the recalled food was sold to customers frozen in 2-pound pouches. However, the recalled food doesn’t have a lot code printed on the packaging. According to the FDA: “Bravo Packing, Inc. Performance Dog products are sold fro...

While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to investigate a serious multi-state salmonella outbreak linked to pig ear dog treats, yet another company is issuing its own recall.  TDBBS of Richmond, VA, is voluntarily recalling a limited distribution of their pig ear dog treats. This comes after samples (conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) tested positive for Salmonella. Pig Ear Treats: What’s Recalled This recall is for two pig ear pet treat products sold through Amazon.com — USA Thick Pig Ear 8 Pack and USA Thick Pig Ear 20 Pack. They were shipped to customers between  April 22, 2019, and August 13, 2019 .  Pet parents should be on the lookout for the following:  All UPCs, Best By Dates and Lot Codes are located on the package back. Here is a sample image of one of the product labels: While no illnesses have been reported at this time, customers are advised to toss any USA Thick Pig Ear 8 Pack and USA T...